Vet Simon Pudsey, co-owner of the practice, said the moggy was lucky not to have been blinded in the mindless attack.

Police are now investigating the shooting which happened sometime on Tuesday morning near Clay Lane, in Hawkes End.

Mr Pudsey said: “Bones didn’t seem too concerned when he was brought in but his owner Emily was upset. She said she noticed the wound when he had returned and though at first he had been in a fight with another cat.

"Thankfully this is the first pellet gun incident I have seen this year.

“Bones was lucky as the pellet had gone into his face and lodged against a bone. Any higher and he could have lost an eye. He was placed under anaesthetic and we removed the pellet. After recovering from the operation he is now back at home with Emily.

“It is just an act of mindless cruelty. The matter has been reported to the police who are investigating.”

Medivet published the story on its Facebook site in a bid to warn other cat owners and to try and find out who might be responsible for the shooting.

Emily, aged 37, from Salford Close, added: “Whoever did this to Bones is just so heartless. I just don’t want this to happen to another cat and want pet owners in the area to be aware of what has happened.”